Press Notices

06.12.06:
UK an international leader in road pricing, says Government's transport advisor

The Commission for Integrated Transport today praised UK progress on road pricing. Launching the Commission's latest report on road pricing around the world, Commission Chairman Peter Hendy told a London conference:

"The Government's work towards national road pricing through local pilots puts it right at the head of the international field. The UK and the Netherlands are the only countries in the world who currently have a strategy to introduce national road pricing. However, we believe the UK's learning-by-doing approach is the best way to minimize risks and make early progress."

Mr Hendy called on the UK Government to maintain the momentum on road-pricing:

"In particular, CfIT will be supportive of moving the public debate forward as soon as Government feels comfortable with setting out a national framework within which local schemes can operate. Our work, and that of Sir Rod Eddington, sets out the issues - and, in due course, the decisions - which need careful analysis."

CfIT's report is the second part of its World Review of Road Pricing. It looks at the first 22 schemes in operation around the world and a further 17 in various stages of development, to benchmark the UK's progress internationally. The report finds that:

• The UK is "at the forefront of the continuing evolution and development of road pricing", because of:
• the successful implementation of schemes in London and Durham;
• the Department for Transport's (DfT) Feasibility Study into national road pricing;
• the research into local schemes carried out through the DfT's Transport Innovation Fund.
• Only two emerging road pricing schemes can be considered as national in their proposed coverage - those for the UK and the Netherlands, although neither can yet be considered committed;
• There is however substantial progress on road pricing around the world, with towns and cities on every continent now looking at road pricing as a means of addressing transport problems;
• For lorry traffic, limited national schemes already exist in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with the Czech Republic and Slovakia also expected to implement lorry charging schemes;
• Most of the authorities around the world that are considering road pricing have more direct control over their transport systems than do the authorities currently progressing local road pricing schemes in England, with the exception of London;
• The evidence from the case studies overwhelmingly indicates that, as with the English Transport Innovation Fund schemes, road pricing is being considered alongside a package of other measures to improve the transport system.

Commission Member and former London Underground Managing Director Paul Godier, who led this work, said:

"It is clear that the world is waking up to the potential of road pricing and the UK is unquestionably leading the thinking on this. The Government needs to maintain the current momentum by providing a clear statement of intent towards national road pricing as soon as it is able. This should anticipate the technological developments, rather than wait for them, and clarify the parameters of the scheme.

"In CfIT's view, Government also needs to ensure that highway and public transport responsibilities are aligned in those metropolitan authorities which are developing road pricing proposals and consider how road pricing can be introduced in a way which both reduces congestion and contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

CfIT has submitted the report to the Secretary of State for Transport, with a covering letter.

Notes to editors:

1. Copies of today's report are available at: www.cfit.gov.uk/docs/2006/wrrp/index.htm.

2. Today's report is the second part of CfIT's assessment of road pricing developments around the world. The first was published on 21 June 2006 and drew lessons from 22 schemes in operation around the world.

3. Peter Hendy was speaking at a Transport Times conference on road pricing at the CBI on 5 December. A copy of his presentation is available at: www.cfit.gov.uk/docs/2006/wrrp/index.htm.

4. CfIT's letter to Douglas Alexander is also available from the CfIT website, at: www.cfit.gov.uk/docs/2006/wrrp/index.htm.

5. The Commission for Integrated Transport was set up by Government to provide it with independent advice on strategic policy issues.

6. CfIT is chaired by Peter Hendy and has 16 other Commission Members drawn from a broad spectrum of transport expertise. See: www.cfit.gov.uk/about/index.htm.